SLU Architecture Thesis Class 2014-15

Thesis Guidelines: Part 2C

INFORMATION GATHERING


Page 1 of 3
Ar. MCPerez-Soriano: August 7, 2014


This is the last section of the different techniques of INFORMATION
GATHERING within the context of architectural programming and research
discussed by Robert Hershberger and William Pea. Although thesis students are
expected to have completed site planning subjects, further understanding of
this tool as a research and programming methodology is very important. In
addition to the outline from Hershbergers book, the following references will be
useful: Site Planning by Kevin Lynch (1971); A Guide to Site and Environmental
Planning by Harvey Rubenstein (1987); and, Site Analysis: Diagramming
Information for Architectural Design by Edward White (1983).

SITE and CLIMATE ANALYSIS
This method is conducted parallel to other information gathering activities
and is a specific application of literature search and diagnostic observation.
Different project conditions require different techniques, example: a) single site
requires a complete site and climate analysis, while, b) several sites which
require analysis of each site might be initially limited to the information necessary
to make the selection of the best site. There are programming issues dependent
on the identification of a specific site, these are: environmental, cultural,
technological, temporal, economic, safety, aesthetic.
The following site data with significant impact on design should also be
collected: topography, exposure, geology, configuration, hydrology, views, size,
and vegetation. Macro and microclimatic conditions should be studied
comprehensively as these will have an impact on the appropriate functions of
the outdoor environment and orientation and configuration of the facilities to
be designed. Codes, ordinances and restrictions will have an impact on design
and the existing community fabric. Similarly, locally available materials,
construction techniques and market conditions will have design impact.
SITE CONSIDERATIONS - a systematic and comprehensive gathering
and analysis of site conditions must be performed, including subjective
evaluations dealing with the various qualities of the site;

o Regional Conditions refers to the regional context, where the
location of a site will have a direct effect on design, examples:
Site in various topographic conditions will have nocturnal
weather cycles;
In sites near a major geological fault, earthquakes are
inevitable;
Sites in broad alluvial fan in a river basin are prone to major
flooding;
SLU Architecture Thesis Class 2014-15
Thesis Guidelines: Part 2C
INFORMATION GATHERING


Page 2 of 3
Ar. MCPerez-Soriano: August 7, 2014


Noise and air pollution are potential problems in sites near
airports;

o Local Conditions - context of the site is shaped by what currently
exists near the boundaries of the site:
Existing buildings, streets, rivers, forests;
Current zoning on all sides;
History on zoning changes or variances;
Consistent character and quality of surrounding buildings;
Available utilities: water, sewer, electrical, gas, telephone,
trash pick-up, cable, internet;
Location of utilities and services;
Traffic kind passing by the site;
Presence of streetlights and pedestrian crossings;
Major access: divisions, median breaks;

o Site Conditions - important in design where the buildings
configuration is a response to different site data; it is also important
to understand the context to which facility requirements these site
data must relate;
Shape and dimension;
Primary orientation and views;
Topography and geology;
Microclimate, flora and fauna;
Natural and built features;
Other peculiarities;

SITE & CLIMATE ANALYSIS use the following methods to collect
information about the site and climate:
Literature search,
Interviewing,
Observation,
Photographic documentation;

o Literature Search
Archives of governmental and quasi-governmental agencies
are sources of the these information that are needed for
master planning purposes, examples:
Namria photographic maps;
DENR or BWD watershed information;
PAG-ASA climate data;
SLU Architecture Thesis Class 2014-15
Thesis Guidelines: Part 2C
INFORMATION GATHERING


Page 3 of 3
Ar. MCPerez-Soriano: August 7, 2014


BWD, BENECO, DPWH utility maps;
LRA or ROD legal ownership, property legal
descriptions, easements, deed of restrictions;

o Site Surveys these methods provide more specific site information
for schematic design, an architectural site survey includes:
Corner stakes
Location of site features (trees, structures, etc)
Public utilities (water, gas, sewer, etc)
Site contours (with suitable vertical intervals)
Soil conditions (bearing strength, soil expansiveness)

o Photographic Documentation - aerial photos, Google maps may
show the following features:
Geographic
Geologic
Building
Landscape
NB: Direct photography of the site and its immediate context
must be done extensively;

o Other Procedures other ways of evaluating a site are:
Walking and observing the site and surroundings;
Making comparisons with other known sites;
Holding discussions with local residents about microclimates,
i.e. Weather, prevailing breezes;
Sketching base maps;
Noting significant features and views;

o Include:
Engineered surveys
Hydrological studies
Archaeological studies
References:
Architectural Programming and Pre-design Manager, by Robert Hershberger,
Mc-Graw Hill, 1999.
Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer, William M. Pea and
Steven A. Parshall, John Wiley & Sons, 2001
Architectural Research Methods, by Linda Groat and David Wang John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., 2002.